Seville, Spain, 1 July 2025 - The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Government of the Republic of Korea today unveiled REVIVE - Relief, Employment and Vital Infrastructure for the Vulnerable in Emergencies, a new global initiative to jumpstart early recovery and resilience in communities torn by conflicts, disasters, or displacement.
Launched at the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development, REVIVE represents a bold, forward-looking commitment to bridge the critical gap between emergency relief and sustainable recovery from day one of the crisis. With almost 310 million people projected to require humanitarian assistance in 2025 - many trapped in crises lasting over a decade - REVIVE is built to act fast, scale quickly and adapt to real needs on the ground.
"REVIVE fills a critical gap in the international system of development cooperation. It brings together catalytic financing, nationally led planning, and local solutions for transitions that sustain both peace and development," said Haoliang Xu, UNDP Acting Administrator and Associate Administrator, at the launch event.
Backed by USD 64 million from Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, REVIVE will support early recovery efforts across Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Gaza, Syria, Ukraine and other crisis-affected contexts - countries where UNDP and its partners are already working to hold the line against compounding shocks and long-standing instability. Drawing on UNDP's longstanding presence in over 170 countries and deep roots in fragile settings, REVIVE is expected to reach around 5.8 million people, including 2.5 million directly, within a one-year period, by focusing on three key areas:
- Restoring damaged infrastructure, including medical clinics, schools, water systems, and homes;
- Creating emergency jobs and revitalizing small businesses to restart local economies;
- Reestablishing essential services, from electricity and clean water to healthcare and waste management.
At its core, REVIVE is grounded in turning disruption into opportunity. It combines catalytic financing, risk-informed investments, and national ownership to reduce humanitarian needs and ensure that people can not only recover - but thrive.
In Gaza, REVIVE will clear rubble, restore services, and support displaced families. In Ukraine, it will repair power grids, schools, and hospitals damaged by war. In Afghanistan, the focus will be on food security and winter preparedness in hard-to-reach communities.
In Syria, the programme will help families return home safely through mine clearance and rebuilding efforts. And in the DRC, it will support survivors of violence to access vital services and build back stronger.
Together, UNDP and the Republic of Korea are reshaping what smart investments in early recovery look like-with communities leading the way and a clear goal in sight: rebuilding the future, not just repairing the aftermath.
